The early modern city constituted a distinctive social and legal environment in which family life was shaped by specific urban conditions, norms, and institutions. Families functioned not only as private units but also as key actors in legal, economic, and cultural processes. This conference aims to explore the role of the family in early modern urban societies, focusing on its legal regulation, social structure, and cultural practices.

We invite scholars working in history, legal history, social and cultural history, and related fields. Contributions offering comparative, regional, interdisciplinary, or digital humanities perspectives are especially welcome.

The conference will be held in a hybrid format to ensure broad international participation, but in-person attendance is strongly encouraged. All accepted speakers will have the opportunity to present their papers using a presentation.

The working language of the conference is English.

Suggested thematic areas include:
• • Structures and composition of urban families in the early modern period
• • Family law and legal frameworks of marriage, kinship, and household organization
• • Family hierarchy, childhood, and old age in urban contexts
• • Women’s legal and social status within urban households
• • Infertility, childlessness, and alternative family forms
• • Inheritance law and practices of property transmission
• • Literacy, education, and reading culture in the urban family
• • Digital sources and methods in the study of the early modern urban family

Submission information

Please submit a paper proposal (abstract of 300–400 words) by 30 March 2026 via the Google application form

The organizers reserve the right to select contributions based on thematic relevance and scholarly quality.

Information regarding acceptance and the conference program will be communicated after the review process.

Selected papers will be considered for publication in a peer-reviewed journal issue of Ukrainian Historical Review, published by the Ukrainian Catholic University. Further details will be provided after the conference.

The organizers will provide accommodation and lunches for all accepted speakers.